Staying Home with FDL
As we all navigate this unprecedented time and do our part to stay home to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, we thought it might be fun to share what FDL staff are doing to pass the time. While most of us are still working from home, we definitely have more time on our hands for reading, creativity, hobbies, and more. This week we’re sharing our favorite books from our home libraries – we hope you enjoy!
My DK Japanese English Bilingual Dictionary is one of my favorite books that I have at home. It’s an essential tool to have when learning a foreign language such as Japanese. I particularly like this dictionary because it features pictures along with the vocabulary words and an audio app that features native speakers using accurate pronunciation. I have several Japanese/English dictionaries, and this one is by far the best.
– Deb, Circulation Assistant
I can’t choose a book, but I can choose a series. My current favorite series is the October Daye series by Seanan McGuire. First, a description of the series from the author’s page: “The October Daye books follow the adventures of October “Toby” Daye as she tries to find her footing in a world that seems a little more interested in killing her than she’d like.” I love this series because it has great world-building, good character development, romance (that doesn’t overshadow the plot), and there’s a Court of Cats! It’s a little slow going at first, but I think it’s definitely worth it.
– Monica, Technical Services Specialist
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff… and it’s all small stuff is one of my favorite little books to read. We live in a very fast pace world and sometimes we just need to slow down and breathe. When we are going through chaotic times in life, I like that it keeps it simple and reminds me everything will be okay. Don’t sweat the small stuff!
– Marsha, Circulation Assistant
Nancy Drew and the Secret of the Old Clock 
is on of my all-time favorites. Nancy Drew has been my hero ever since I read it. I remember knowing exactly where those yellow spines were in the library growing up and making it my goal to read every single one! I loved reading about how Nancy figured out a case and put all of the clues together. It opened my eyes to the world of mysteries, which I still can’t get enough of.
– Laura, Youth Services Manager
To Kill A Mockingbird is one of my favorite books, not only for its readability and its powerful message, but also because its the source of personal memories for me. My father used to read to us when we were kids, and this is one of the books he read. I revisit it every few years, and there are still certain passages that I can’t read without hearing my father’s beautiful reading voice in my mind.
– Sylvia, Circulation Specialist
I have an absurd number of plants in my house, and this book is like my horticulture Bible. It’s a 1979 edition of Success with Houseplants from Reader’s Digest that belonged to a cousin who was like a grandmother to me. Its information and advice is more reliable than most articles on the Internet, and her newspaper clippings, bookmarks, and notes are still pressed between the pages. I still discover something new every time I open it.
– Beth, Communications Specialist
We’re excited to announce that library staff are now available by phone while the building is closed. Staff is available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at 309-205-5855 to answer reference questions, help manage your account, reset your account PIN, help accessing our digital collections and virtual programs, and more! Staff will also still be available via 
Birthday Celebration – “This week we had a birthday at our house. There was lemon cake, 
Homemade Enchiladas – “I had a craving for enchiladas this week, but I’d never made them before. I love cooking, so I decided I’d try to make them homemade, sauce included! You can use flour tortillas instead of corn if you’d like (I also microwaved the tortillas for 10 seconds per corn tortilla, because they can be fragile when wrapping otherwise). I also used GoVeggie shreds instead of dairy cheese shreds — they taste just as good! You can definitely switch some things around to make it work if you have dietary restrictions. This recipe serves two, but you can easily double it or even triple it. ”
Books from Childhood – “I’ve been going through my memories in time and had came across some of my book collection. How fun it is to read stories like Lassie and bring back all the memories I read from when l was little.”
Making Ear Savers – “I have been making crocheted ear savers to donate to local healthcare workers. They are very comfortable and look like headbands when attached to your masks.”
ICC Botanical Gardens – “I took an early morning walk through ICC’s botanical gardens. The flowers are starting to bloom and it’s a great place to get some fresh air and clear my mind. I spotted two cardinals and listened to a lot of birds singing.”
First up is the PG-rated romantic comedy Emma. This movie starring Anya Taylor-Joy is based on the beloved Jane Austen book of the same title set in 19th century England. It’s currently available to rent from YouTube and Google Play.
Another romance movie that is available only from Netflix is To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love you. Rated TV-14, this offering is based on the book P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han. This title is a sequel to To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (also available as a book and Netflix movie).
If you’re looking for more of a horror/thriller, try The Turning, which is a modern take on the classic The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. It’s rated PG-13 and has been released for streaming on Amazon Prime, YouTube, and Google Play as of early April.
The movie The Invisible Man released earlier this year is loosely based on the H.G. Wells classic of the same title. This is an R-rated re-imagining of the book, available to stream on Amazon Prime, YouTube, and Google Play.
